OTTAWA, November 26, 2013 — Following the tabling of the 2013 annual report from the Office of the Auditor General, the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, made the following statement:
“We take our responsibilities very seriously when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of Canadian communities, while facilitating the free flow of persons and goods.
I have asked the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to fully address the findings and recommendations of the Office of the Auditor General. Indeed, officials are already in the process of implementing systems to further improve the safety of our border. We will also be bringing forward entry and exit systems to improve information sharing between law enforcement agencies at the border to better protect Canadians and to safeguard our fair and generous immigration system.
I am also pleased that the Office of the Auditor General recognizes the CBSA’s progress in developing and implementing a comprehensive risk management framework and a strong National Targeting Program.
Our Government has taken strong action to keep our border safe and secure. We have increased frontline border officers by 26% and we have removed over 115,000 illegal immigrants since 2006. As well, in 2012 alone, the CBSA denied entry to nearly 51,000 inadmissible travellers, while facilitating the entry of over 100 million legitimate travellers.”
